Kenneth R. Leitch
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- School: West Texas A&M University
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- Department: Engineering
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2501 4th Ave
Canyon, TX - 79016 - Dates at West Texas A&M University: -
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Biography
West Texas A&M University - Engineering
Assoc Prof of Civil Engineering at West Texas A&M University
Civil Engineering
Kenneth R.
Leitch, PhD, PE, MBA
Amarillo, Texas Area
I am a registered professional civil engineer (Texas & Indiana) working in the higher education field. I am always looking for research collaborators in the realm of engineering education, transportation, materials, surveying, sustainability (especially LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)) and other engineering-related topics. I also hold an MBA (Corporate Training) as of Dec 2009.
Specialties:
• Knowledge of AutoCAD, including Land Desktop and Civil 3D
• 3-D computer modeling techniques (finite element method & photogrammetry)
• Testing of construction materials including metals, concrete, soil, plastics, and more
• Engineering pedagogy and ethics
• Sustainability in engineering (including LEED)
• Extensive knowledge of Microsoft operating systems and applications, Android, Linux, and UNIX
Experience
New Mexico State University
College Instructor/Research and Teaching Assistant
• College instructor: statics, mechanics, materials testing, and engineering economics
• Laboratory instructor for Civil Engineering Materials Testing Laboratory: developed syllabi and instructed the laboratory course (three years)
• Teaching assistant for multiple undergraduate CE courses
• Research assistant: in-depth analysis of a large truss bridge in Seoul, South Korea; helped to test novel materials such paper bales, concrete mixes, and metals in the testing laboratoryKSCE TV 38 El Paso, TX
Master Control Operator
Part time work as a master control operator at television station; put programs on air, recorded and edited programs, answered telephones, filing paperwork
Valparaiso University
Engineering Faculty
• Class instruction (transportation, materials, structural analysis, structural design, surveying, CAD, and engineering economics)
• Curriculum development
• Student advising
• Materials testing laboratory operation and maintenance
• ASCE student chapter advisor
• 3-D surveying modeling
• Recruiting activitiesTurner Fairbank Highway Research Center, Federal Highway Administration
Graduate Research Fellow
helped to determine the feasibility of reinforced concrete
material models for use with the LS-DYNA 3D finite element software package in modeling roadside safety features; produced a final report submitted to the FHWAWest Texas A&M University
Assoc Prof of Civil Engineering
• Class instruction
• Curriculum development and assessment
• Undergraduate research
• Recruiting and outreach activities
• ASCE student chapter advisor
• Engineering research
Education
New Mexico State University
PhD
Civil Engineering (+Transportation & Surveying)
New Mexico State University
MS
Civil Engineering
Civil EngineeringNew Mexico State University
College Instructor/Research and Teaching Assistant
• College instructor: statics, mechanics, materials testing, and engineering economics • Laboratory instructor for Civil Engineering Materials Testing Laboratory: developed syllabi and instructed the laboratory course (three years) • Teaching assistant for multiple undergraduate CE courses • Research assistant: in-depth analysis of a large truss bridge in Seoul, South Korea; helped to test novel materials such paper bales, concrete mixes, and metals in the testing laboratoryColorado Christian University
MBA
Corporate Training Track
Completed Dec 2009
Publications
Optimization of Post-Tensioned Box Girder Bridges with Special References to Use of High Strength Concrete Using AASHTO LRFD Method
Advances in Civil Engineering
With the Federal Highway Administration mandated implementation of the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) specifications, many state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) have already started implementing LRFD Specifications as developed by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Many aspects of the LRFD Specifications are being investigated by DOTs and researchers in order for seemless implementation for design and analysis purposes Apart from the new specifications, High Strength/High Performance Concrete (HSC/HPC) will be selectively used by most state DOTs. This paper presents the investigation on several design aspects of post-tensioned box girder bridges designed by LRFD Specifications using conventional or High Strength Concrete (HSC). A computer spreadsheet application was specifically developed for this investigation. It is capable of analysis, design, and cost evaluation of the superstructure for a cast-in-place post-tensioned box girder bridge. Optimal design of a post-tensioned box girder is achievable by correct selection of design variables. Cost evaluation of superstructures with different geometrical and material configurations has led to the development of optimum design charts for these types of superstructures. Variables used to develop these charts include among others, span length, section depth, web spacing, tendon profile, and concrete strength. The use of HSC is known to have significant structural advantage in post-tensioned concrete box girder design. It was observed that HSC enables the achievement of significantly longer span lengths and/or longer web spacing that is not achievable when using normal strength concrete.
Optimization of Post-Tensioned Box Girder Bridges with Special References to Use of High Strength Concrete Using AASHTO LRFD Method
Advances in Civil Engineering
With the Federal Highway Administration mandated implementation of the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) specifications, many state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) have already started implementing LRFD Specifications as developed by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Many aspects of the LRFD Specifications are being investigated by DOTs and researchers in order for seemless implementation for design and analysis purposes Apart from the new specifications, High Strength/High Performance Concrete (HSC/HPC) will be selectively used by most state DOTs. This paper presents the investigation on several design aspects of post-tensioned box girder bridges designed by LRFD Specifications using conventional or High Strength Concrete (HSC). A computer spreadsheet application was specifically developed for this investigation. It is capable of analysis, design, and cost evaluation of the superstructure for a cast-in-place post-tensioned box girder bridge. Optimal design of a post-tensioned box girder is achievable by correct selection of design variables. Cost evaluation of superstructures with different geometrical and material configurations has led to the development of optimum design charts for these types of superstructures. Variables used to develop these charts include among others, span length, section depth, web spacing, tendon profile, and concrete strength. The use of HSC is known to have significant structural advantage in post-tensioned concrete box girder design. It was observed that HSC enables the achievement of significantly longer span lengths and/or longer web spacing that is not achievable when using normal strength concrete.
Green Construction in Civil Engineering Instruction
43rd Annual Frontiers in Education (FIE) Conference (Oct 2013)
Teaching sustainability in civil engineering curriculum fulfills ABET 2000 Outcome 3c and the codes of ethics of NSPE and ASCE. The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has published the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria since 1998. LEED is an optional criteria in private construction and is mandated or encouraged by many federal, state, and local governments for public construction projects. Learning about LEED criteria will help to prepare civil engineers to understand how civil systems interact with and operate in a more complementary manner with the natural world as well as to reduce water, energy, and material usage. The authors describe the process of learning about the LEED v3 (2009) criteria to apply it to two existing buildings to build a scorecard. In the process of building the scorecard, the authors learned about sustainable construction techniques. Future guidance on applications of the LEED criteria across the undergraduate civil engineering curriculum is discussed.
Optimization of Post-Tensioned Box Girder Bridges with Special References to Use of High Strength Concrete Using AASHTO LRFD Method
Advances in Civil Engineering
With the Federal Highway Administration mandated implementation of the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) specifications, many state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) have already started implementing LRFD Specifications as developed by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Many aspects of the LRFD Specifications are being investigated by DOTs and researchers in order for seemless implementation for design and analysis purposes Apart from the new specifications, High Strength/High Performance Concrete (HSC/HPC) will be selectively used by most state DOTs. This paper presents the investigation on several design aspects of post-tensioned box girder bridges designed by LRFD Specifications using conventional or High Strength Concrete (HSC). A computer spreadsheet application was specifically developed for this investigation. It is capable of analysis, design, and cost evaluation of the superstructure for a cast-in-place post-tensioned box girder bridge. Optimal design of a post-tensioned box girder is achievable by correct selection of design variables. Cost evaluation of superstructures with different geometrical and material configurations has led to the development of optimum design charts for these types of superstructures. Variables used to develop these charts include among others, span length, section depth, web spacing, tendon profile, and concrete strength. The use of HSC is known to have significant structural advantage in post-tensioned concrete box girder design. It was observed that HSC enables the achievement of significantly longer span lengths and/or longer web spacing that is not achievable when using normal strength concrete.
Green Construction in Civil Engineering Instruction
43rd Annual Frontiers in Education (FIE) Conference (Oct 2013)
Teaching sustainability in civil engineering curriculum fulfills ABET 2000 Outcome 3c and the codes of ethics of NSPE and ASCE. The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has published the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria since 1998. LEED is an optional criteria in private construction and is mandated or encouraged by many federal, state, and local governments for public construction projects. Learning about LEED criteria will help to prepare civil engineers to understand how civil systems interact with and operate in a more complementary manner with the natural world as well as to reduce water, energy, and material usage. The authors describe the process of learning about the LEED v3 (2009) criteria to apply it to two existing buildings to build a scorecard. In the process of building the scorecard, the authors learned about sustainable construction techniques. Future guidance on applications of the LEED criteria across the undergraduate civil engineering curriculum is discussed.
Experimental Heat Transfer Study on Green Roofs in a Semi-Arid Climate during Summer (Accepted)
Hindawi Journal of Construction Engineering
An experimental study was conducted on green roofs under the semi-arid summer climatic conditions of West Texas to investigate the effect soil type, moisture content, and the presence of a top soil grass layer on the conductive heat transfer through the roof. Two soil types were investigated: uniform sand and local silt clay. Tests were also conducted on a control roof. A dual-needle heat-pulse sensor was used to conduct thermal property tests on the soils. The tests reveal that unlike sand, the thermal conductivity of silt clay did not increase continuously with soil moisture. Better heat transfer conditions were achieved when the sand and silt clay roofs were watered to a water depth of 10 mm per day rather than double the amount of 20 mm per day. The roof with silt clay soil had the lowest fluctuation in inner temperature between daytime and nighttime. Green roofs with silt clay soil required more than twice the amount of soil moisture than green roofs with sand to achieve similar roof heat transfer rates. The best net heat flux gains for vegetated green roofs were 4.7 W/m2 for the sand roof, and 7.8 W/m2 for the silt clay roof. Keywords: Semi-Arid Climate, Green Roof, Thermal Conductivity, Silt Clay, Heat Flux
Optimization of Post-Tensioned Box Girder Bridges with Special References to Use of High Strength Concrete Using AASHTO LRFD Method
Advances in Civil Engineering
With the Federal Highway Administration mandated implementation of the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) specifications, many state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) have already started implementing LRFD Specifications as developed by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Many aspects of the LRFD Specifications are being investigated by DOTs and researchers in order for seemless implementation for design and analysis purposes Apart from the new specifications, High Strength/High Performance Concrete (HSC/HPC) will be selectively used by most state DOTs. This paper presents the investigation on several design aspects of post-tensioned box girder bridges designed by LRFD Specifications using conventional or High Strength Concrete (HSC). A computer spreadsheet application was specifically developed for this investigation. It is capable of analysis, design, and cost evaluation of the superstructure for a cast-in-place post-tensioned box girder bridge. Optimal design of a post-tensioned box girder is achievable by correct selection of design variables. Cost evaluation of superstructures with different geometrical and material configurations has led to the development of optimum design charts for these types of superstructures. Variables used to develop these charts include among others, span length, section depth, web spacing, tendon profile, and concrete strength. The use of HSC is known to have significant structural advantage in post-tensioned concrete box girder design. It was observed that HSC enables the achievement of significantly longer span lengths and/or longer web spacing that is not achievable when using normal strength concrete.
Green Construction in Civil Engineering Instruction
43rd Annual Frontiers in Education (FIE) Conference (Oct 2013)
Teaching sustainability in civil engineering curriculum fulfills ABET 2000 Outcome 3c and the codes of ethics of NSPE and ASCE. The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has published the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria since 1998. LEED is an optional criteria in private construction and is mandated or encouraged by many federal, state, and local governments for public construction projects. Learning about LEED criteria will help to prepare civil engineers to understand how civil systems interact with and operate in a more complementary manner with the natural world as well as to reduce water, energy, and material usage. The authors describe the process of learning about the LEED v3 (2009) criteria to apply it to two existing buildings to build a scorecard. In the process of building the scorecard, the authors learned about sustainable construction techniques. Future guidance on applications of the LEED criteria across the undergraduate civil engineering curriculum is discussed.
Experimental Heat Transfer Study on Green Roofs in a Semi-Arid Climate during Summer (Accepted)
Hindawi Journal of Construction Engineering
An experimental study was conducted on green roofs under the semi-arid summer climatic conditions of West Texas to investigate the effect soil type, moisture content, and the presence of a top soil grass layer on the conductive heat transfer through the roof. Two soil types were investigated: uniform sand and local silt clay. Tests were also conducted on a control roof. A dual-needle heat-pulse sensor was used to conduct thermal property tests on the soils. The tests reveal that unlike sand, the thermal conductivity of silt clay did not increase continuously with soil moisture. Better heat transfer conditions were achieved when the sand and silt clay roofs were watered to a water depth of 10 mm per day rather than double the amount of 20 mm per day. The roof with silt clay soil had the lowest fluctuation in inner temperature between daytime and nighttime. Green roofs with silt clay soil required more than twice the amount of soil moisture than green roofs with sand to achieve similar roof heat transfer rates. The best net heat flux gains for vegetated green roofs were 4.7 W/m2 for the sand roof, and 7.8 W/m2 for the silt clay roof. Keywords: Semi-Arid Climate, Green Roof, Thermal Conductivity, Silt Clay, Heat Flux
Sustainability in Undergraduate Civil and Mechanical Engineering Instruction
American Society for Engineering Education
Teaching sustainability in engineering curricula fulfills ABET 2000 Outcome 3c1 as well as the codes of ethics of, ASCE2, ASME3, and NSPE4. The authors have investigated the use of sustainability concepts of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria and have applied principles to several undergraduate research projects and in coursework. LEED is an optional sustainability guideline in private construction and is mandated or encouraged by many federal, state, and local governments for public construction projects. Learning about sustainability will help engineers understand how their creations will interact with and operate in a more complementary manner with the natural world as well as to reduce water, energy, and material usage. Sustainability has been implemented in the engineering curriculum, particularly in courses such as capstone senior design, thermal-fluid system design, and engineering research. The projects implemented in those courses were selected in such a way to establish an in-depth understanding of sustainability through analytical and experimental studies, and to build environmentally friendly and energy efficient systems. Some of these projects include: design of an active solar distillation system for purification of wastewater produced in rural agricultural processing facilities, experimental studies on prototype green roofs to investigate the effects that soil type and soil moisture level have on the thermal performance of a roof, design and construction of a three-stage wind tower with a bypass system for indoor cooling in rural dry and hot climates, and design of an outdoor civil engineering instructional laboratory. These projects will be discussed in brief in this paper and future guidance on applications of sustainability in the undergraduate civil and mechanical engineering curriculum is discussed.
Optimization of Post-Tensioned Box Girder Bridges with Special References to Use of High Strength Concrete Using AASHTO LRFD Method
Advances in Civil Engineering
With the Federal Highway Administration mandated implementation of the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) specifications, many state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) have already started implementing LRFD Specifications as developed by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Many aspects of the LRFD Specifications are being investigated by DOTs and researchers in order for seemless implementation for design and analysis purposes Apart from the new specifications, High Strength/High Performance Concrete (HSC/HPC) will be selectively used by most state DOTs. This paper presents the investigation on several design aspects of post-tensioned box girder bridges designed by LRFD Specifications using conventional or High Strength Concrete (HSC). A computer spreadsheet application was specifically developed for this investigation. It is capable of analysis, design, and cost evaluation of the superstructure for a cast-in-place post-tensioned box girder bridge. Optimal design of a post-tensioned box girder is achievable by correct selection of design variables. Cost evaluation of superstructures with different geometrical and material configurations has led to the development of optimum design charts for these types of superstructures. Variables used to develop these charts include among others, span length, section depth, web spacing, tendon profile, and concrete strength. The use of HSC is known to have significant structural advantage in post-tensioned concrete box girder design. It was observed that HSC enables the achievement of significantly longer span lengths and/or longer web spacing that is not achievable when using normal strength concrete.
Green Construction in Civil Engineering Instruction
43rd Annual Frontiers in Education (FIE) Conference (Oct 2013)
Teaching sustainability in civil engineering curriculum fulfills ABET 2000 Outcome 3c and the codes of ethics of NSPE and ASCE. The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has published the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria since 1998. LEED is an optional criteria in private construction and is mandated or encouraged by many federal, state, and local governments for public construction projects. Learning about LEED criteria will help to prepare civil engineers to understand how civil systems interact with and operate in a more complementary manner with the natural world as well as to reduce water, energy, and material usage. The authors describe the process of learning about the LEED v3 (2009) criteria to apply it to two existing buildings to build a scorecard. In the process of building the scorecard, the authors learned about sustainable construction techniques. Future guidance on applications of the LEED criteria across the undergraduate civil engineering curriculum is discussed.
Experimental Heat Transfer Study on Green Roofs in a Semi-Arid Climate during Summer (Accepted)
Hindawi Journal of Construction Engineering
An experimental study was conducted on green roofs under the semi-arid summer climatic conditions of West Texas to investigate the effect soil type, moisture content, and the presence of a top soil grass layer on the conductive heat transfer through the roof. Two soil types were investigated: uniform sand and local silt clay. Tests were also conducted on a control roof. A dual-needle heat-pulse sensor was used to conduct thermal property tests on the soils. The tests reveal that unlike sand, the thermal conductivity of silt clay did not increase continuously with soil moisture. Better heat transfer conditions were achieved when the sand and silt clay roofs were watered to a water depth of 10 mm per day rather than double the amount of 20 mm per day. The roof with silt clay soil had the lowest fluctuation in inner temperature between daytime and nighttime. Green roofs with silt clay soil required more than twice the amount of soil moisture than green roofs with sand to achieve similar roof heat transfer rates. The best net heat flux gains for vegetated green roofs were 4.7 W/m2 for the sand roof, and 7.8 W/m2 for the silt clay roof. Keywords: Semi-Arid Climate, Green Roof, Thermal Conductivity, Silt Clay, Heat Flux
Sustainability in Undergraduate Civil and Mechanical Engineering Instruction
American Society for Engineering Education
Teaching sustainability in engineering curricula fulfills ABET 2000 Outcome 3c1 as well as the codes of ethics of, ASCE2, ASME3, and NSPE4. The authors have investigated the use of sustainability concepts of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria and have applied principles to several undergraduate research projects and in coursework. LEED is an optional sustainability guideline in private construction and is mandated or encouraged by many federal, state, and local governments for public construction projects. Learning about sustainability will help engineers understand how their creations will interact with and operate in a more complementary manner with the natural world as well as to reduce water, energy, and material usage. Sustainability has been implemented in the engineering curriculum, particularly in courses such as capstone senior design, thermal-fluid system design, and engineering research. The projects implemented in those courses were selected in such a way to establish an in-depth understanding of sustainability through analytical and experimental studies, and to build environmentally friendly and energy efficient systems. Some of these projects include: design of an active solar distillation system for purification of wastewater produced in rural agricultural processing facilities, experimental studies on prototype green roofs to investigate the effects that soil type and soil moisture level have on the thermal performance of a roof, design and construction of a three-stage wind tower with a bypass system for indoor cooling in rural dry and hot climates, and design of an outdoor civil engineering instructional laboratory. These projects will be discussed in brief in this paper and future guidance on applications of sustainability in the undergraduate civil and mechanical engineering curriculum is discussed.
Non-Contact Modeling of Structures Using Close-Range Digital Photogrammetry
ASCE Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction
Recent years have seen a vast change in measurement technology. Data that were once extremely difficult and possibly dangerous to collect can now be collected and processed using only a digital camera and off-the-shelf software. Currently, digital close-range photogrammetry has made it possible to efficiently model a variety of structures in a budget-friendly manner. In this paper, a range of different types of structures were modeled. The viability of using this type of measurement is studied for different structure types, and the feasibility of using this method in conjunction with or as a replacement of other means is discussed. Read More: http://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/(ASCE)SC.1943-5576.0000124
Optimization of Post-Tensioned Box Girder Bridges with Special References to Use of High Strength Concrete Using AASHTO LRFD Method
Advances in Civil Engineering
With the Federal Highway Administration mandated implementation of the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) specifications, many state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) have already started implementing LRFD Specifications as developed by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Many aspects of the LRFD Specifications are being investigated by DOTs and researchers in order for seemless implementation for design and analysis purposes Apart from the new specifications, High Strength/High Performance Concrete (HSC/HPC) will be selectively used by most state DOTs. This paper presents the investigation on several design aspects of post-tensioned box girder bridges designed by LRFD Specifications using conventional or High Strength Concrete (HSC). A computer spreadsheet application was specifically developed for this investigation. It is capable of analysis, design, and cost evaluation of the superstructure for a cast-in-place post-tensioned box girder bridge. Optimal design of a post-tensioned box girder is achievable by correct selection of design variables. Cost evaluation of superstructures with different geometrical and material configurations has led to the development of optimum design charts for these types of superstructures. Variables used to develop these charts include among others, span length, section depth, web spacing, tendon profile, and concrete strength. The use of HSC is known to have significant structural advantage in post-tensioned concrete box girder design. It was observed that HSC enables the achievement of significantly longer span lengths and/or longer web spacing that is not achievable when using normal strength concrete.
Green Construction in Civil Engineering Instruction
43rd Annual Frontiers in Education (FIE) Conference (Oct 2013)
Teaching sustainability in civil engineering curriculum fulfills ABET 2000 Outcome 3c and the codes of ethics of NSPE and ASCE. The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has published the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria since 1998. LEED is an optional criteria in private construction and is mandated or encouraged by many federal, state, and local governments for public construction projects. Learning about LEED criteria will help to prepare civil engineers to understand how civil systems interact with and operate in a more complementary manner with the natural world as well as to reduce water, energy, and material usage. The authors describe the process of learning about the LEED v3 (2009) criteria to apply it to two existing buildings to build a scorecard. In the process of building the scorecard, the authors learned about sustainable construction techniques. Future guidance on applications of the LEED criteria across the undergraduate civil engineering curriculum is discussed.
Experimental Heat Transfer Study on Green Roofs in a Semi-Arid Climate during Summer (Accepted)
Hindawi Journal of Construction Engineering
An experimental study was conducted on green roofs under the semi-arid summer climatic conditions of West Texas to investigate the effect soil type, moisture content, and the presence of a top soil grass layer on the conductive heat transfer through the roof. Two soil types were investigated: uniform sand and local silt clay. Tests were also conducted on a control roof. A dual-needle heat-pulse sensor was used to conduct thermal property tests on the soils. The tests reveal that unlike sand, the thermal conductivity of silt clay did not increase continuously with soil moisture. Better heat transfer conditions were achieved when the sand and silt clay roofs were watered to a water depth of 10 mm per day rather than double the amount of 20 mm per day. The roof with silt clay soil had the lowest fluctuation in inner temperature between daytime and nighttime. Green roofs with silt clay soil required more than twice the amount of soil moisture than green roofs with sand to achieve similar roof heat transfer rates. The best net heat flux gains for vegetated green roofs were 4.7 W/m2 for the sand roof, and 7.8 W/m2 for the silt clay roof. Keywords: Semi-Arid Climate, Green Roof, Thermal Conductivity, Silt Clay, Heat Flux
Sustainability in Undergraduate Civil and Mechanical Engineering Instruction
American Society for Engineering Education
Teaching sustainability in engineering curricula fulfills ABET 2000 Outcome 3c1 as well as the codes of ethics of, ASCE2, ASME3, and NSPE4. The authors have investigated the use of sustainability concepts of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria and have applied principles to several undergraduate research projects and in coursework. LEED is an optional sustainability guideline in private construction and is mandated or encouraged by many federal, state, and local governments for public construction projects. Learning about sustainability will help engineers understand how their creations will interact with and operate in a more complementary manner with the natural world as well as to reduce water, energy, and material usage. Sustainability has been implemented in the engineering curriculum, particularly in courses such as capstone senior design, thermal-fluid system design, and engineering research. The projects implemented in those courses were selected in such a way to establish an in-depth understanding of sustainability through analytical and experimental studies, and to build environmentally friendly and energy efficient systems. Some of these projects include: design of an active solar distillation system for purification of wastewater produced in rural agricultural processing facilities, experimental studies on prototype green roofs to investigate the effects that soil type and soil moisture level have on the thermal performance of a roof, design and construction of a three-stage wind tower with a bypass system for indoor cooling in rural dry and hot climates, and design of an outdoor civil engineering instructional laboratory. These projects will be discussed in brief in this paper and future guidance on applications of sustainability in the undergraduate civil and mechanical engineering curriculum is discussed.
Non-Contact Modeling of Structures Using Close-Range Digital Photogrammetry
ASCE Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction
Recent years have seen a vast change in measurement technology. Data that were once extremely difficult and possibly dangerous to collect can now be collected and processed using only a digital camera and off-the-shelf software. Currently, digital close-range photogrammetry has made it possible to efficiently model a variety of structures in a budget-friendly manner. In this paper, a range of different types of structures were modeled. The viability of using this type of measurement is studied for different structure types, and the feasibility of using this method in conjunction with or as a replacement of other means is discussed. Read More: http://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/(ASCE)SC.1943-5576.0000124
Study of Internet Visitors on College Education Websites
American International Journal of Social Science (AIJSS)
This study examines usage patterns of educational websites that employ databases, wikis, and general resources for information sharing and dissemination. To gather data about website usage, a quantitative survey was sent out to students and to the users of an existing educational website. Additionally, participants provided data on learning preferences and practices. Findings from the survey show that users visit an education website for finding information and getting connected to a community. The survey results also show that while communicating information should remain a top priority, educational web sites will need to adapt to an increasing desire for interpersonal communication within their own online communities. Keywords: uses and gratification, online courses, online education, educational websites, social media, and social networking
Optimization of Post-Tensioned Box Girder Bridges with Special References to Use of High Strength Concrete Using AASHTO LRFD Method
Advances in Civil Engineering
With the Federal Highway Administration mandated implementation of the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) specifications, many state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) have already started implementing LRFD Specifications as developed by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Many aspects of the LRFD Specifications are being investigated by DOTs and researchers in order for seemless implementation for design and analysis purposes Apart from the new specifications, High Strength/High Performance Concrete (HSC/HPC) will be selectively used by most state DOTs. This paper presents the investigation on several design aspects of post-tensioned box girder bridges designed by LRFD Specifications using conventional or High Strength Concrete (HSC). A computer spreadsheet application was specifically developed for this investigation. It is capable of analysis, design, and cost evaluation of the superstructure for a cast-in-place post-tensioned box girder bridge. Optimal design of a post-tensioned box girder is achievable by correct selection of design variables. Cost evaluation of superstructures with different geometrical and material configurations has led to the development of optimum design charts for these types of superstructures. Variables used to develop these charts include among others, span length, section depth, web spacing, tendon profile, and concrete strength. The use of HSC is known to have significant structural advantage in post-tensioned concrete box girder design. It was observed that HSC enables the achievement of significantly longer span lengths and/or longer web spacing that is not achievable when using normal strength concrete.
Green Construction in Civil Engineering Instruction
43rd Annual Frontiers in Education (FIE) Conference (Oct 2013)
Teaching sustainability in civil engineering curriculum fulfills ABET 2000 Outcome 3c and the codes of ethics of NSPE and ASCE. The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has published the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria since 1998. LEED is an optional criteria in private construction and is mandated or encouraged by many federal, state, and local governments for public construction projects. Learning about LEED criteria will help to prepare civil engineers to understand how civil systems interact with and operate in a more complementary manner with the natural world as well as to reduce water, energy, and material usage. The authors describe the process of learning about the LEED v3 (2009) criteria to apply it to two existing buildings to build a scorecard. In the process of building the scorecard, the authors learned about sustainable construction techniques. Future guidance on applications of the LEED criteria across the undergraduate civil engineering curriculum is discussed.
Experimental Heat Transfer Study on Green Roofs in a Semi-Arid Climate during Summer (Accepted)
Hindawi Journal of Construction Engineering
An experimental study was conducted on green roofs under the semi-arid summer climatic conditions of West Texas to investigate the effect soil type, moisture content, and the presence of a top soil grass layer on the conductive heat transfer through the roof. Two soil types were investigated: uniform sand and local silt clay. Tests were also conducted on a control roof. A dual-needle heat-pulse sensor was used to conduct thermal property tests on the soils. The tests reveal that unlike sand, the thermal conductivity of silt clay did not increase continuously with soil moisture. Better heat transfer conditions were achieved when the sand and silt clay roofs were watered to a water depth of 10 mm per day rather than double the amount of 20 mm per day. The roof with silt clay soil had the lowest fluctuation in inner temperature between daytime and nighttime. Green roofs with silt clay soil required more than twice the amount of soil moisture than green roofs with sand to achieve similar roof heat transfer rates. The best net heat flux gains for vegetated green roofs were 4.7 W/m2 for the sand roof, and 7.8 W/m2 for the silt clay roof. Keywords: Semi-Arid Climate, Green Roof, Thermal Conductivity, Silt Clay, Heat Flux
Sustainability in Undergraduate Civil and Mechanical Engineering Instruction
American Society for Engineering Education
Teaching sustainability in engineering curricula fulfills ABET 2000 Outcome 3c1 as well as the codes of ethics of, ASCE2, ASME3, and NSPE4. The authors have investigated the use of sustainability concepts of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria and have applied principles to several undergraduate research projects and in coursework. LEED is an optional sustainability guideline in private construction and is mandated or encouraged by many federal, state, and local governments for public construction projects. Learning about sustainability will help engineers understand how their creations will interact with and operate in a more complementary manner with the natural world as well as to reduce water, energy, and material usage. Sustainability has been implemented in the engineering curriculum, particularly in courses such as capstone senior design, thermal-fluid system design, and engineering research. The projects implemented in those courses were selected in such a way to establish an in-depth understanding of sustainability through analytical and experimental studies, and to build environmentally friendly and energy efficient systems. Some of these projects include: design of an active solar distillation system for purification of wastewater produced in rural agricultural processing facilities, experimental studies on prototype green roofs to investigate the effects that soil type and soil moisture level have on the thermal performance of a roof, design and construction of a three-stage wind tower with a bypass system for indoor cooling in rural dry and hot climates, and design of an outdoor civil engineering instructional laboratory. These projects will be discussed in brief in this paper and future guidance on applications of sustainability in the undergraduate civil and mechanical engineering curriculum is discussed.
Non-Contact Modeling of Structures Using Close-Range Digital Photogrammetry
ASCE Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction
Recent years have seen a vast change in measurement technology. Data that were once extremely difficult and possibly dangerous to collect can now be collected and processed using only a digital camera and off-the-shelf software. Currently, digital close-range photogrammetry has made it possible to efficiently model a variety of structures in a budget-friendly manner. In this paper, a range of different types of structures were modeled. The viability of using this type of measurement is studied for different structure types, and the feasibility of using this method in conjunction with or as a replacement of other means is discussed. Read More: http://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/(ASCE)SC.1943-5576.0000124
Study of Internet Visitors on College Education Websites
American International Journal of Social Science (AIJSS)
This study examines usage patterns of educational websites that employ databases, wikis, and general resources for information sharing and dissemination. To gather data about website usage, a quantitative survey was sent out to students and to the users of an existing educational website. Additionally, participants provided data on learning preferences and practices. Findings from the survey show that users visit an education website for finding information and getting connected to a community. The survey results also show that while communicating information should remain a top priority, educational web sites will need to adapt to an increasing desire for interpersonal communication within their own online communities. Keywords: uses and gratification, online courses, online education, educational websites, social media, and social networking
A Tailored Approach to a Freshman Introduction to Engineering (Accepted)
American Society for Engineering Education
West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) organized what is now known as its School of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) in 2003. In 2010, the faculty decided to create their own in-house text and lab book to address the civil, environmental, mechanical, and engineering technology programs by compiling materials from WTAMU faculty, as it was felt existing textbooks were not a good value proposition nor addressed the concerns of the unique student population. This approach allows for greater flexibility and rapid updates in the topics that are taught. Materials were also shared with Amarillo College, a nearby two-year institution that offers an associates program in engineering that can be applied directly to the WTAMU engineering programs through an articulation agreement. This paper will focus on relationships with two-year partner institutions, the unique student population served, the challenges of the initiation of four-year ABET-aligned engineering programs, and ensuring that the freshman experience is a rich experiential preparation for study in an engineering program of the student’s choice.
Optimization of Post-Tensioned Box Girder Bridges with Special References to Use of High Strength Concrete Using AASHTO LRFD Method
Advances in Civil Engineering
With the Federal Highway Administration mandated implementation of the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) specifications, many state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) have already started implementing LRFD Specifications as developed by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Many aspects of the LRFD Specifications are being investigated by DOTs and researchers in order for seemless implementation for design and analysis purposes Apart from the new specifications, High Strength/High Performance Concrete (HSC/HPC) will be selectively used by most state DOTs. This paper presents the investigation on several design aspects of post-tensioned box girder bridges designed by LRFD Specifications using conventional or High Strength Concrete (HSC). A computer spreadsheet application was specifically developed for this investigation. It is capable of analysis, design, and cost evaluation of the superstructure for a cast-in-place post-tensioned box girder bridge. Optimal design of a post-tensioned box girder is achievable by correct selection of design variables. Cost evaluation of superstructures with different geometrical and material configurations has led to the development of optimum design charts for these types of superstructures. Variables used to develop these charts include among others, span length, section depth, web spacing, tendon profile, and concrete strength. The use of HSC is known to have significant structural advantage in post-tensioned concrete box girder design. It was observed that HSC enables the achievement of significantly longer span lengths and/or longer web spacing that is not achievable when using normal strength concrete.
Green Construction in Civil Engineering Instruction
43rd Annual Frontiers in Education (FIE) Conference (Oct 2013)
Teaching sustainability in civil engineering curriculum fulfills ABET 2000 Outcome 3c and the codes of ethics of NSPE and ASCE. The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has published the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria since 1998. LEED is an optional criteria in private construction and is mandated or encouraged by many federal, state, and local governments for public construction projects. Learning about LEED criteria will help to prepare civil engineers to understand how civil systems interact with and operate in a more complementary manner with the natural world as well as to reduce water, energy, and material usage. The authors describe the process of learning about the LEED v3 (2009) criteria to apply it to two existing buildings to build a scorecard. In the process of building the scorecard, the authors learned about sustainable construction techniques. Future guidance on applications of the LEED criteria across the undergraduate civil engineering curriculum is discussed.
Experimental Heat Transfer Study on Green Roofs in a Semi-Arid Climate during Summer (Accepted)
Hindawi Journal of Construction Engineering
An experimental study was conducted on green roofs under the semi-arid summer climatic conditions of West Texas to investigate the effect soil type, moisture content, and the presence of a top soil grass layer on the conductive heat transfer through the roof. Two soil types were investigated: uniform sand and local silt clay. Tests were also conducted on a control roof. A dual-needle heat-pulse sensor was used to conduct thermal property tests on the soils. The tests reveal that unlike sand, the thermal conductivity of silt clay did not increase continuously with soil moisture. Better heat transfer conditions were achieved when the sand and silt clay roofs were watered to a water depth of 10 mm per day rather than double the amount of 20 mm per day. The roof with silt clay soil had the lowest fluctuation in inner temperature between daytime and nighttime. Green roofs with silt clay soil required more than twice the amount of soil moisture than green roofs with sand to achieve similar roof heat transfer rates. The best net heat flux gains for vegetated green roofs were 4.7 W/m2 for the sand roof, and 7.8 W/m2 for the silt clay roof. Keywords: Semi-Arid Climate, Green Roof, Thermal Conductivity, Silt Clay, Heat Flux
Sustainability in Undergraduate Civil and Mechanical Engineering Instruction
American Society for Engineering Education
Teaching sustainability in engineering curricula fulfills ABET 2000 Outcome 3c1 as well as the codes of ethics of, ASCE2, ASME3, and NSPE4. The authors have investigated the use of sustainability concepts of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria and have applied principles to several undergraduate research projects and in coursework. LEED is an optional sustainability guideline in private construction and is mandated or encouraged by many federal, state, and local governments for public construction projects. Learning about sustainability will help engineers understand how their creations will interact with and operate in a more complementary manner with the natural world as well as to reduce water, energy, and material usage. Sustainability has been implemented in the engineering curriculum, particularly in courses such as capstone senior design, thermal-fluid system design, and engineering research. The projects implemented in those courses were selected in such a way to establish an in-depth understanding of sustainability through analytical and experimental studies, and to build environmentally friendly and energy efficient systems. Some of these projects include: design of an active solar distillation system for purification of wastewater produced in rural agricultural processing facilities, experimental studies on prototype green roofs to investigate the effects that soil type and soil moisture level have on the thermal performance of a roof, design and construction of a three-stage wind tower with a bypass system for indoor cooling in rural dry and hot climates, and design of an outdoor civil engineering instructional laboratory. These projects will be discussed in brief in this paper and future guidance on applications of sustainability in the undergraduate civil and mechanical engineering curriculum is discussed.
Non-Contact Modeling of Structures Using Close-Range Digital Photogrammetry
ASCE Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction
Recent years have seen a vast change in measurement technology. Data that were once extremely difficult and possibly dangerous to collect can now be collected and processed using only a digital camera and off-the-shelf software. Currently, digital close-range photogrammetry has made it possible to efficiently model a variety of structures in a budget-friendly manner. In this paper, a range of different types of structures were modeled. The viability of using this type of measurement is studied for different structure types, and the feasibility of using this method in conjunction with or as a replacement of other means is discussed. Read More: http://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/(ASCE)SC.1943-5576.0000124
Study of Internet Visitors on College Education Websites
American International Journal of Social Science (AIJSS)
This study examines usage patterns of educational websites that employ databases, wikis, and general resources for information sharing and dissemination. To gather data about website usage, a quantitative survey was sent out to students and to the users of an existing educational website. Additionally, participants provided data on learning preferences and practices. Findings from the survey show that users visit an education website for finding information and getting connected to a community. The survey results also show that while communicating information should remain a top priority, educational web sites will need to adapt to an increasing desire for interpersonal communication within their own online communities. Keywords: uses and gratification, online courses, online education, educational websites, social media, and social networking
A Tailored Approach to a Freshman Introduction to Engineering (Accepted)
American Society for Engineering Education
West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) organized what is now known as its School of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) in 2003. In 2010, the faculty decided to create their own in-house text and lab book to address the civil, environmental, mechanical, and engineering technology programs by compiling materials from WTAMU faculty, as it was felt existing textbooks were not a good value proposition nor addressed the concerns of the unique student population. This approach allows for greater flexibility and rapid updates in the topics that are taught. Materials were also shared with Amarillo College, a nearby two-year institution that offers an associates program in engineering that can be applied directly to the WTAMU engineering programs through an articulation agreement. This paper will focus on relationships with two-year partner institutions, the unique student population served, the challenges of the initiation of four-year ABET-aligned engineering programs, and ensuring that the freshman experience is a rich experiential preparation for study in an engineering program of the student’s choice.
Introducing Sustainability into Civil Engineering Undergraduate Curriculum
Texas Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers
As part of the process of gaining knowledge in sustainable construction practices, Drs. Leitch and Chang and West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) civil engineering student Christy Brian spent the summer of 2012 learning the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Associate certification material and associated standards. LEED is the primary sustainable construction specification used in the United States and is published and promoted by the US Green Building Council (USGBC, www.usgbc.org). The authors plan to implement elements of the LEED specification across the engineering curriculum at WTAMU. Sustainability is specifically addressed in the ASCE and NSPE Code of Ethics as well as in ABET Program Outcome 3c. This paper will discuss the process of studying for the LEED exam and curricular implementations at WTAMU.
Optimization of Post-Tensioned Box Girder Bridges with Special References to Use of High Strength Concrete Using AASHTO LRFD Method
Advances in Civil Engineering
With the Federal Highway Administration mandated implementation of the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) specifications, many state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) have already started implementing LRFD Specifications as developed by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Many aspects of the LRFD Specifications are being investigated by DOTs and researchers in order for seemless implementation for design and analysis purposes Apart from the new specifications, High Strength/High Performance Concrete (HSC/HPC) will be selectively used by most state DOTs. This paper presents the investigation on several design aspects of post-tensioned box girder bridges designed by LRFD Specifications using conventional or High Strength Concrete (HSC). A computer spreadsheet application was specifically developed for this investigation. It is capable of analysis, design, and cost evaluation of the superstructure for a cast-in-place post-tensioned box girder bridge. Optimal design of a post-tensioned box girder is achievable by correct selection of design variables. Cost evaluation of superstructures with different geometrical and material configurations has led to the development of optimum design charts for these types of superstructures. Variables used to develop these charts include among others, span length, section depth, web spacing, tendon profile, and concrete strength. The use of HSC is known to have significant structural advantage in post-tensioned concrete box girder design. It was observed that HSC enables the achievement of significantly longer span lengths and/or longer web spacing that is not achievable when using normal strength concrete.
Green Construction in Civil Engineering Instruction
43rd Annual Frontiers in Education (FIE) Conference (Oct 2013)
Teaching sustainability in civil engineering curriculum fulfills ABET 2000 Outcome 3c and the codes of ethics of NSPE and ASCE. The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has published the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria since 1998. LEED is an optional criteria in private construction and is mandated or encouraged by many federal, state, and local governments for public construction projects. Learning about LEED criteria will help to prepare civil engineers to understand how civil systems interact with and operate in a more complementary manner with the natural world as well as to reduce water, energy, and material usage. The authors describe the process of learning about the LEED v3 (2009) criteria to apply it to two existing buildings to build a scorecard. In the process of building the scorecard, the authors learned about sustainable construction techniques. Future guidance on applications of the LEED criteria across the undergraduate civil engineering curriculum is discussed.
Experimental Heat Transfer Study on Green Roofs in a Semi-Arid Climate during Summer (Accepted)
Hindawi Journal of Construction Engineering
An experimental study was conducted on green roofs under the semi-arid summer climatic conditions of West Texas to investigate the effect soil type, moisture content, and the presence of a top soil grass layer on the conductive heat transfer through the roof. Two soil types were investigated: uniform sand and local silt clay. Tests were also conducted on a control roof. A dual-needle heat-pulse sensor was used to conduct thermal property tests on the soils. The tests reveal that unlike sand, the thermal conductivity of silt clay did not increase continuously with soil moisture. Better heat transfer conditions were achieved when the sand and silt clay roofs were watered to a water depth of 10 mm per day rather than double the amount of 20 mm per day. The roof with silt clay soil had the lowest fluctuation in inner temperature between daytime and nighttime. Green roofs with silt clay soil required more than twice the amount of soil moisture than green roofs with sand to achieve similar roof heat transfer rates. The best net heat flux gains for vegetated green roofs were 4.7 W/m2 for the sand roof, and 7.8 W/m2 for the silt clay roof. Keywords: Semi-Arid Climate, Green Roof, Thermal Conductivity, Silt Clay, Heat Flux
Sustainability in Undergraduate Civil and Mechanical Engineering Instruction
American Society for Engineering Education
Teaching sustainability in engineering curricula fulfills ABET 2000 Outcome 3c1 as well as the codes of ethics of, ASCE2, ASME3, and NSPE4. The authors have investigated the use of sustainability concepts of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria and have applied principles to several undergraduate research projects and in coursework. LEED is an optional sustainability guideline in private construction and is mandated or encouraged by many federal, state, and local governments for public construction projects. Learning about sustainability will help engineers understand how their creations will interact with and operate in a more complementary manner with the natural world as well as to reduce water, energy, and material usage. Sustainability has been implemented in the engineering curriculum, particularly in courses such as capstone senior design, thermal-fluid system design, and engineering research. The projects implemented in those courses were selected in such a way to establish an in-depth understanding of sustainability through analytical and experimental studies, and to build environmentally friendly and energy efficient systems. Some of these projects include: design of an active solar distillation system for purification of wastewater produced in rural agricultural processing facilities, experimental studies on prototype green roofs to investigate the effects that soil type and soil moisture level have on the thermal performance of a roof, design and construction of a three-stage wind tower with a bypass system for indoor cooling in rural dry and hot climates, and design of an outdoor civil engineering instructional laboratory. These projects will be discussed in brief in this paper and future guidance on applications of sustainability in the undergraduate civil and mechanical engineering curriculum is discussed.
Non-Contact Modeling of Structures Using Close-Range Digital Photogrammetry
ASCE Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction
Recent years have seen a vast change in measurement technology. Data that were once extremely difficult and possibly dangerous to collect can now be collected and processed using only a digital camera and off-the-shelf software. Currently, digital close-range photogrammetry has made it possible to efficiently model a variety of structures in a budget-friendly manner. In this paper, a range of different types of structures were modeled. The viability of using this type of measurement is studied for different structure types, and the feasibility of using this method in conjunction with or as a replacement of other means is discussed. Read More: http://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/(ASCE)SC.1943-5576.0000124
Study of Internet Visitors on College Education Websites
American International Journal of Social Science (AIJSS)
This study examines usage patterns of educational websites that employ databases, wikis, and general resources for information sharing and dissemination. To gather data about website usage, a quantitative survey was sent out to students and to the users of an existing educational website. Additionally, participants provided data on learning preferences and practices. Findings from the survey show that users visit an education website for finding information and getting connected to a community. The survey results also show that while communicating information should remain a top priority, educational web sites will need to adapt to an increasing desire for interpersonal communication within their own online communities. Keywords: uses and gratification, online courses, online education, educational websites, social media, and social networking
A Tailored Approach to a Freshman Introduction to Engineering (Accepted)
American Society for Engineering Education
West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) organized what is now known as its School of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) in 2003. In 2010, the faculty decided to create their own in-house text and lab book to address the civil, environmental, mechanical, and engineering technology programs by compiling materials from WTAMU faculty, as it was felt existing textbooks were not a good value proposition nor addressed the concerns of the unique student population. This approach allows for greater flexibility and rapid updates in the topics that are taught. Materials were also shared with Amarillo College, a nearby two-year institution that offers an associates program in engineering that can be applied directly to the WTAMU engineering programs through an articulation agreement. This paper will focus on relationships with two-year partner institutions, the unique student population served, the challenges of the initiation of four-year ABET-aligned engineering programs, and ensuring that the freshman experience is a rich experiential preparation for study in an engineering program of the student’s choice.
Introducing Sustainability into Civil Engineering Undergraduate Curriculum
Texas Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers
As part of the process of gaining knowledge in sustainable construction practices, Drs. Leitch and Chang and West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) civil engineering student Christy Brian spent the summer of 2012 learning the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Associate certification material and associated standards. LEED is the primary sustainable construction specification used in the United States and is published and promoted by the US Green Building Council (USGBC, www.usgbc.org). The authors plan to implement elements of the LEED specification across the engineering curriculum at WTAMU. Sustainability is specifically addressed in the ASCE and NSPE Code of Ethics as well as in ABET Program Outcome 3c. This paper will discuss the process of studying for the LEED exam and curricular implementations at WTAMU.
Online and In-Seat Engineering Ethics Instruction: The View from Both Sides
2012 ASEE Annual Conference San Antonio, TX USA
The ABET 2000 Criterion 3f states that engineering programs must educate students with “an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.” In addition, the Fundamentals of Engineering and Professional Engineering examinations also address the need for ethics instruction. As such, undergraduate engineering curricula must address ethics instruction within a designated course and/or across engineering coursework. Traditionally, engineering ethics instruction has been conducted in a formal classroom setting. However, online instruction has gained rapidly in acceptance in many disciplines. Engineering programs are catching up with some programs offering all or part of their coursework online. Ethics instruction can be readily implemented in an online learning environment. This paper will address the author’s experience in instructing engineering ethics at multiple universities in the traditional lecture format and compare and contrast that experience with offering an online engineering ethics format. The author will describe engineering ethics course construction for use with traditional in-seat lecture and online instruction. Student scores appear to indicate that this topic can be implemented successfully online or inseat. Online instruction allows for greater flexibility for students to fit required coursework into busy schedules.
Optimization of Post-Tensioned Box Girder Bridges with Special References to Use of High Strength Concrete Using AASHTO LRFD Method
Advances in Civil Engineering
With the Federal Highway Administration mandated implementation of the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) specifications, many state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) have already started implementing LRFD Specifications as developed by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Many aspects of the LRFD Specifications are being investigated by DOTs and researchers in order for seemless implementation for design and analysis purposes Apart from the new specifications, High Strength/High Performance Concrete (HSC/HPC) will be selectively used by most state DOTs. This paper presents the investigation on several design aspects of post-tensioned box girder bridges designed by LRFD Specifications using conventional or High Strength Concrete (HSC). A computer spreadsheet application was specifically developed for this investigation. It is capable of analysis, design, and cost evaluation of the superstructure for a cast-in-place post-tensioned box girder bridge. Optimal design of a post-tensioned box girder is achievable by correct selection of design variables. Cost evaluation of superstructures with different geometrical and material configurations has led to the development of optimum design charts for these types of superstructures. Variables used to develop these charts include among others, span length, section depth, web spacing, tendon profile, and concrete strength. The use of HSC is known to have significant structural advantage in post-tensioned concrete box girder design. It was observed that HSC enables the achievement of significantly longer span lengths and/or longer web spacing that is not achievable when using normal strength concrete.
Green Construction in Civil Engineering Instruction
43rd Annual Frontiers in Education (FIE) Conference (Oct 2013)
Teaching sustainability in civil engineering curriculum fulfills ABET 2000 Outcome 3c and the codes of ethics of NSPE and ASCE. The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has published the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria since 1998. LEED is an optional criteria in private construction and is mandated or encouraged by many federal, state, and local governments for public construction projects. Learning about LEED criteria will help to prepare civil engineers to understand how civil systems interact with and operate in a more complementary manner with the natural world as well as to reduce water, energy, and material usage. The authors describe the process of learning about the LEED v3 (2009) criteria to apply it to two existing buildings to build a scorecard. In the process of building the scorecard, the authors learned about sustainable construction techniques. Future guidance on applications of the LEED criteria across the undergraduate civil engineering curriculum is discussed.
Experimental Heat Transfer Study on Green Roofs in a Semi-Arid Climate during Summer (Accepted)
Hindawi Journal of Construction Engineering
An experimental study was conducted on green roofs under the semi-arid summer climatic conditions of West Texas to investigate the effect soil type, moisture content, and the presence of a top soil grass layer on the conductive heat transfer through the roof. Two soil types were investigated: uniform sand and local silt clay. Tests were also conducted on a control roof. A dual-needle heat-pulse sensor was used to conduct thermal property tests on the soils. The tests reveal that unlike sand, the thermal conductivity of silt clay did not increase continuously with soil moisture. Better heat transfer conditions were achieved when the sand and silt clay roofs were watered to a water depth of 10 mm per day rather than double the amount of 20 mm per day. The roof with silt clay soil had the lowest fluctuation in inner temperature between daytime and nighttime. Green roofs with silt clay soil required more than twice the amount of soil moisture than green roofs with sand to achieve similar roof heat transfer rates. The best net heat flux gains for vegetated green roofs were 4.7 W/m2 for the sand roof, and 7.8 W/m2 for the silt clay roof. Keywords: Semi-Arid Climate, Green Roof, Thermal Conductivity, Silt Clay, Heat Flux
Sustainability in Undergraduate Civil and Mechanical Engineering Instruction
American Society for Engineering Education
Teaching sustainability in engineering curricula fulfills ABET 2000 Outcome 3c1 as well as the codes of ethics of, ASCE2, ASME3, and NSPE4. The authors have investigated the use of sustainability concepts of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria and have applied principles to several undergraduate research projects and in coursework. LEED is an optional sustainability guideline in private construction and is mandated or encouraged by many federal, state, and local governments for public construction projects. Learning about sustainability will help engineers understand how their creations will interact with and operate in a more complementary manner with the natural world as well as to reduce water, energy, and material usage. Sustainability has been implemented in the engineering curriculum, particularly in courses such as capstone senior design, thermal-fluid system design, and engineering research. The projects implemented in those courses were selected in such a way to establish an in-depth understanding of sustainability through analytical and experimental studies, and to build environmentally friendly and energy efficient systems. Some of these projects include: design of an active solar distillation system for purification of wastewater produced in rural agricultural processing facilities, experimental studies on prototype green roofs to investigate the effects that soil type and soil moisture level have on the thermal performance of a roof, design and construction of a three-stage wind tower with a bypass system for indoor cooling in rural dry and hot climates, and design of an outdoor civil engineering instructional laboratory. These projects will be discussed in brief in this paper and future guidance on applications of sustainability in the undergraduate civil and mechanical engineering curriculum is discussed.
Non-Contact Modeling of Structures Using Close-Range Digital Photogrammetry
ASCE Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction
Recent years have seen a vast change in measurement technology. Data that were once extremely difficult and possibly dangerous to collect can now be collected and processed using only a digital camera and off-the-shelf software. Currently, digital close-range photogrammetry has made it possible to efficiently model a variety of structures in a budget-friendly manner. In this paper, a range of different types of structures were modeled. The viability of using this type of measurement is studied for different structure types, and the feasibility of using this method in conjunction with or as a replacement of other means is discussed. Read More: http://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/(ASCE)SC.1943-5576.0000124
Study of Internet Visitors on College Education Websites
American International Journal of Social Science (AIJSS)
This study examines usage patterns of educational websites that employ databases, wikis, and general resources for information sharing and dissemination. To gather data about website usage, a quantitative survey was sent out to students and to the users of an existing educational website. Additionally, participants provided data on learning preferences and practices. Findings from the survey show that users visit an education website for finding information and getting connected to a community. The survey results also show that while communicating information should remain a top priority, educational web sites will need to adapt to an increasing desire for interpersonal communication within their own online communities. Keywords: uses and gratification, online courses, online education, educational websites, social media, and social networking
A Tailored Approach to a Freshman Introduction to Engineering (Accepted)
American Society for Engineering Education
West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) organized what is now known as its School of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) in 2003. In 2010, the faculty decided to create their own in-house text and lab book to address the civil, environmental, mechanical, and engineering technology programs by compiling materials from WTAMU faculty, as it was felt existing textbooks were not a good value proposition nor addressed the concerns of the unique student population. This approach allows for greater flexibility and rapid updates in the topics that are taught. Materials were also shared with Amarillo College, a nearby two-year institution that offers an associates program in engineering that can be applied directly to the WTAMU engineering programs through an articulation agreement. This paper will focus on relationships with two-year partner institutions, the unique student population served, the challenges of the initiation of four-year ABET-aligned engineering programs, and ensuring that the freshman experience is a rich experiential preparation for study in an engineering program of the student’s choice.
Introducing Sustainability into Civil Engineering Undergraduate Curriculum
Texas Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers
As part of the process of gaining knowledge in sustainable construction practices, Drs. Leitch and Chang and West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) civil engineering student Christy Brian spent the summer of 2012 learning the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Associate certification material and associated standards. LEED is the primary sustainable construction specification used in the United States and is published and promoted by the US Green Building Council (USGBC, www.usgbc.org). The authors plan to implement elements of the LEED specification across the engineering curriculum at WTAMU. Sustainability is specifically addressed in the ASCE and NSPE Code of Ethics as well as in ABET Program Outcome 3c. This paper will discuss the process of studying for the LEED exam and curricular implementations at WTAMU.
Online and In-Seat Engineering Ethics Instruction: The View from Both Sides
2012 ASEE Annual Conference San Antonio, TX USA
The ABET 2000 Criterion 3f states that engineering programs must educate students with “an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.” In addition, the Fundamentals of Engineering and Professional Engineering examinations also address the need for ethics instruction. As such, undergraduate engineering curricula must address ethics instruction within a designated course and/or across engineering coursework. Traditionally, engineering ethics instruction has been conducted in a formal classroom setting. However, online instruction has gained rapidly in acceptance in many disciplines. Engineering programs are catching up with some programs offering all or part of their coursework online. Ethics instruction can be readily implemented in an online learning environment. This paper will address the author’s experience in instructing engineering ethics at multiple universities in the traditional lecture format and compare and contrast that experience with offering an online engineering ethics format. The author will describe engineering ethics course construction for use with traditional in-seat lecture and online instruction. Student scores appear to indicate that this topic can be implemented successfully online or inseat. Online instruction allows for greater flexibility for students to fit required coursework into busy schedules.
INSTALLATION OF 42 KW SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS AND 50 KW WIND TURBINE SYSTEMS
Journal of Green Building
A solar photovoltaic (PV) system and a wind turbine system are to be utilized to reduce energy use from the electrical grid consumption at West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) through the use of renewable energy. WTAMU’s Alternative Energy Institute (AEI) performed the installation of the PV/wind turbine systems. A 42 kW PV system located at the Palo Duro Research Facility (PDRF) is suitable to offset the energy use of the PDRF since the energy consumed by the facility is primarily during the daytime, with a peak energy use of approximately 225 kW. The expected energy match of 42 kW compared to the typical daily energy consumption of the building (75–80 kW) will have a significant impact on grid energy cost for this office and research space. A 50 kW wind turbine system located at WTAMU’s Nance Ranch produces the energy required by its cattle feedlot operations. It consumed approximately 125,000 kWh of electricity based on data monitored from June 2011 to May 2012. The majority of the energy use at this facility, is consumed on a schedule based upon feeding operations, grinding, mixing, and loading the feed. In addition, there is continual energy used for maintaining proper heat in the feed additives, as well as for the steaming and cracking process for feedstuffs.
Possible Matching Profiles
The following profiles may or may not be the same professor:
- Kenneth R Leitch (60% Match)
Associate Professor
West Texas A&M University - West Texas A&m University